Comments on: Utah’s Season of Fear http://www.wildsnow.com/620/utahs-season-of-fear/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:43:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jim Jones http://www.wildsnow.com/620/utahs-season-of-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-5619 Jim Jones Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:02:51 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=620#comment-5619 Part of the problem is Utah has been overrun with noobs whose only info is from retarded ski magazines and movies. What they don't seem to understand is that there are times when the 'backcountry' is to be avoided. Some years will be worse than others. Part of the problem is Utah has been overrun with noobs whose only info is from retarded ski magazines and movies. What they don’t seem to understand is that there are times when the ‘backcountry’ is to be avoided. Some years will be worse than others.

]]> By: frank http://www.wildsnow.com/620/utahs-season-of-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-5612 frank Sun, 25 Feb 2007 01:20:57 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=620#comment-5612 It has to be very, very difficult right now to be a bc skier in Utah. When past experiences lead one to a certain set of expectations of what is safe or not in the backcountry, it must be very difficult to change that mindset. From my own perspective, as a Colorado native, I have never been caught in a serious avalanche in CO (Knock on wood), despite hundreds of days out there. On the other hand, I have had two serious incidents, one in Valdez and the other in the backcountry outside Blackcomb. So, each time I have had a serious incident, it was in a generally safer maritime snowpack. While there were a host of reasons for this, one of the main reasons was simply the fact that I was sticking my neck out more due to the coastal snowpack. It seems reasonable that those recreating in Utah are also used to bigger, steeper, more exposed areas and aren't adjusting to this poor winter. It has to be very, very difficult right now to be a bc skier in Utah. When past experiences lead one to a certain set of expectations of what is safe or not in the backcountry, it must be very difficult to change that mindset.

From my own perspective, as a Colorado native, I have never been caught in a serious avalanche in CO (Knock on wood), despite hundreds of days out there. On the other hand, I have had two serious incidents, one in Valdez and the other in the backcountry outside Blackcomb. So, each time I have had a serious incident, it was in a generally safer maritime snowpack. While there were a host of reasons for this, one of the main reasons was simply the fact that I was sticking my neck out more due to the coastal snowpack. It seems reasonable that those recreating in Utah are also used to bigger, steeper, more exposed areas and aren’t adjusting to this poor winter.

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/620/utahs-season-of-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-5611 Lou Sat, 24 Feb 2007 21:58:01 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=620#comment-5611 Matt, thanks for visiting! Matt, thanks for visiting!

]]> By: Matt Kinney http://www.wildsnow.com/620/utahs-season-of-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-5610 Matt Kinney Sat, 24 Feb 2007 18:08:53 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=620#comment-5610 tks 4 your perspectives on some these incidents. tks 4 your perspectives on some these incidents.

]]> By: David Aldous http://www.wildsnow.com/620/utahs-season-of-fear/comment-page-1/#comment-5607 David Aldous Sat, 24 Feb 2007 00:40:29 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=620#comment-5607 Like lou said we aren't used to this type of snowpack. People need to realize that it doesn't matter what a normal snowpack acts like or what directions the prevailing wind normally loads the slope or if you have been snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoing or sledding in an area for the last ten years. What matters is the current conditions from the current season. Each snowpack is different from previous years and the conditions are never exactly the same. I wish more people who venture into the backcountry (or side or front country for that matter) would be more careful and aware of the potential dangers they are exposing themselves to. I'm guessing the fact that we haven't had much snow so far this season is contributing to the mental aspect of why people put themselves in these situations. They may be so anxious to get out on the rare fresh snow they ignore the warning signs. My recomendation is to be informed of the conditions, travel using all the safety precautions you can and if you haven't taken an avy course take one. If you have taken a course you might consider a refresher. Dave Like lou said we aren’t used to this type of snowpack. People need to realize that it doesn’t matter what a normal snowpack acts like or what directions the prevailing wind normally loads the slope or if you have been snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoing or sledding in an area for the last ten years. What matters is the current conditions from the current season. Each snowpack is different from previous years and the conditions are never exactly the same. I wish more people who venture into the backcountry (or side or front country for that matter) would be more careful and aware of the potential dangers they are exposing themselves to.
I’m guessing the fact that we haven’t had much snow so far this season is contributing to the mental aspect of why people put themselves in these situations. They may be so anxious to get out on the rare fresh snow they ignore the warning signs.
My recomendation is to be informed of the conditions, travel using all the safety precautions you can and if you haven’t taken an avy course take one. If you have taken a course you might consider a refresher.
Dave

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